Abstract: In some examples, a computing device receives, from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a first image from a first camera on the UAV and a plurality of second images from a plurality of second cameras on the UAV. The plurality of second cameras may be positioned on the UAV for providing a plurality of different fields of view in a plurality of different directions around the UAV. Further, the first camera has a longer focal length than the second cameras. The computing device presents, on a display, a composite image including at least a portion of the first image within a merged image generated from the plurality of second images. The presented composite image enables a user to at least one of: zoom out from the at least one first image to the merged image, or zoom in from the merged image to the at least one first image.

Abstract: An introduced autonomous aerial vehicle can include multiple cameras for capturing images of a surrounding physical environment that are utilized for motion planning by an autonomous navigation system. In some embodiments, the cameras can be integrated into one or more rotor assemblies that house powered rotors to free up space within the body of the aerial vehicle. In an example embodiment, an aerial vehicle includes multiple upward-facing cameras and multiple downward-facing cameras with overlapping fields of view to enable stereoscopic computer vision in a plurality of directions around the aerial vehicle. Similar camera arrangements can also be implemented in fixed-wing aerial vehicles.

Abstract: An introduced autonomous aerial vehicle can include multiple cameras for capturing images of a surrounding physical environment that are utilized for motion planning by an autonomous navigation system. In some embodiments, the cameras can be integrated into one or more rotor assemblies that house powered rotors to free up space within the body of the aerial vehicle. In an example embodiment, an aerial vehicle includes multiple upward-facing cameras and multiple downward-facing cameras with overlapping fields of view to enable stereoscopic computer vision in a plurality of directions around the aerial vehicle. Similar camera arrangements can also be implemented in fixed-wing aerial vehicles.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for new paradigms for user interaction with an unmanned aerial vehicle (referred to as a flying digital assistant or FDA) using a portable multifunction device (PMD) such as smart phone. In some embodiments, a user may control image capture from an FDA by adjusting the position and orientation of a PMD. In other embodiments, a user may input a touch gesture via a touch display of a PMD that corresponds with a flight path to be autonomously flown by the FDA.

Abstract: In some examples, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may control a position of a first camera to cause the first camera to capture a first image of a target. The UAV may receive a plurality of second images from a plurality of second cameras, the plurality of second cameras positioned on the UAV for providing a plurality of different fields of view in a plurality of different directions around the UAV, the first camera having a longer focal length than the second cameras. The UAV may combine at least some of the plurality of second images to generate a composite image corresponding to the first image and having a wider-angle field of view than the first image. The UAV may send the first image and the composite image to a computing device.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle that is equipped with image capture devices can use information gathered from the image capture devices to plan a future three-dimensional (3D) trajectory through a physical environment. To this end, a technique is described for image-space based motion planning. In an embodiment, a planned 3D trajectory is projected into an image-space of an image captured by the autonomous vehicle. The planned 3D trajectory is then optimized according to a cost function derived from information (e.g., depth estimates) in the captured image. The cost function associates higher cost values with identified regions of the captured image that are associated with areas of the physical environment into which travel is risky or otherwise undesirable. The autonomous vehicle is thereby encouraged to avoid these areas while satisfying other motion planning objectives.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle that is equipped with image capture devices can use information gathered from the image capture devices to plan a future three-dimensional (3D) trajectory through a physical environment. To this end, a technique is described for image-space based motion planning. In an embodiment, a planned 3D trajectory is projected into an image-space of an image captured by the autonomous vehicle. The planned 3D trajectory is then optimized according to a cost function derived from information (e.g., depth estimates) in the captured image. The cost function associates higher cost values with identified regions of the captured image that are associated with areas of the physical environment into which travel is risky or otherwise undesirable. The autonomous vehicle is thereby encouraged to avoid these areas while satisfying other motion planning objectives.

Abstract: An introduced autonomous aerial vehicle can include multiple cameras for capturing images of a surrounding physical environment that are utilized for motion planning by an autonomous navigation system. In some embodiments, the cameras can be integrated into one or more rotor assemblies that house powered rotors to free up space within the body of the aerial vehicle. In an example embodiment, an aerial vehicle includes multiple upward-facing cameras and multiple downward-facing cameras with overlapping fields of view to enable stereoscopic computer vision in a plurality of directions around the aerial vehicle. Similar camera arrangements can also be implemented in fixed-wing aerial vehicles.

Abstract: An introduced autonomous aerial vehicle can include multiple cameras for capturing images of a surrounding physical environment that are utilized for motion planning by an autonomous navigation system. In some embodiments, the cameras can be integrated into one or more rotor assemblies that house powered rotors to free up space within the body of the aerial vehicle. In an example embodiment, an aerial vehicle includes multiple upward-facing cameras and multiple downward-facing cameras with overlapping fields of view to enable stereoscopic computer vision in a plurality of directions around the aerial vehicle. Similar camera arrangements can also be implemented in fixed-wing aerial vehicles.

Abstract: An introduced autonomous aerial vehicle can include multiple cameras for capturing images of a surrounding physical environment that are utilized for motion planning by an autonomous navigation system. In some embodiments, the cameras can be integrated into one or more rotor assemblies that house powered rotors to free up space within the body of the aerial vehicle. In an example embodiment, an aerial vehicle includes multiple upward-facing cameras and multiple downward-facing cameras with overlapping fields of view to enable stereoscopic computer vision in a plurality of directions around the aerial vehicle. Similar camera arrangements can also be implemented in fixed-wing aerial vehicles.

Abstract: A technique is described for developing and using applications and skills with an autonomous vehicle. In an example embodiment, a development platform is provided that enables access to a developer console for developing software modules for use with an autonomous vehicle. Using the developer console, a developer user can specify instructions for causing an autonomous vehicle to perform one or more operations. For example, to control the behavior of an autonomous vehicle, the instructions can cause an executing computer system at the autonomous vehicle to generate calls to an application programming interface (API) associated with an autonomous navigation system of autonomous vehicle. Such calls to the API can be configured to adjust a parameter of a behavioral objective associated with a trajectory generation process performed by the autonomous navigation system that controls the behavior of the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: In some examples, a computing apparatus may include one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media that, when executed by one or more processors, direct the computing apparatus to perform various steps. For example, the program instructions may continually present a graphical user interface (GUI) at the computing apparatus including a display of a current view of the physical environment from a perspective of an aerial vehicle. The program instructions may detect user interactions with the GUI while the aerial vehicle is in flight. The user interactions may include instructions directing the aerial vehicle to maneuver within the physical environment and configure parameters for scanning a three-dimensional (3D) scan volume. The program instruction may then transmit, to the aerial vehicle, data encoding the instructions for performing a 3D scan of the 3D scan volume.

Abstract: An actuator is introduced that utilizes the forces that result from placing a current carrying coil in a magnetic field to rotate a connected object about at least one axis. In some embodiments, the introduced coil actuator includes a coil of conductor coupled to an arm or other type of structural element that extends radially from an axis of rotation. The introduced coil actuator can be utilized to provide motion control in a variety of different applications such as gimbal mechanisms. In some embodiments, the introduced coil actuator can be implemented in a gimbal mechanism for adjusting an orientation of a device such as a camera relative to a connected platform such as the body of an aerial vehicle.

Abstract: Sports and fitness applications for an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) are described. In an example embodiment, a UAV can be configured to track a human subject using perception inputs from one or more onboard sensors. The perception inputs can be utilized to generate values for various performance metrics associated with the activity of the human subject. In some embodiments, the perception inputs can be utilized to autonomously maneuver the UAV to lead the human subject to satisfy a performance goal. The UAV can also be configured to autonomously capture images of a sporting event and/or make rule determinations while officiating a sporting event.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for new paradigms for user interaction with an unmanned aerial vehicle (referred to as a flying digital assistant or FDA) using a portable multifunction device (PMD) such as smart phone. In some embodiments, a user may control image capture from an FDA by adjusting the position and orientation of a PMD. In other embodiments, a user may input a touch gesture via a touch display of a PMD that corresponds with a flight path to be autonomously flown by the FDA.

Abstract: Sports and fitness applications for an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) are described. In an example embodiment, a UAV can be configured to track a human subject using perception inputs from one or more onboard sensors. The perception inputs can be utilized to generate values for various performance metrics associated with the activity of the human subject. In some embodiments, the perception inputs can be utilized to autonomously maneuver the UAV to lead the human subject to satisfy a performance goal. The UAV can also be configured to autonomously capture images of a sporting event and/or make rule determinations while officiating a sporting event.

Abstract: An introduced autonomous aerial vehicle can include multiple cameras for capturing images of a surrounding physical environment that are utilized for motion planning by an autonomous navigation system. In some embodiments, the cameras can be integrated into one or more rotor assemblies that house powered rotors to free up space within the body of the aerial vehicle. In an example embodiment, an aerial vehicle includes multiple upward-facing cameras and multiple downward-facing cameras with overlapping fields of view to enable stereoscopic computer vision in a plurality of directions around the aerial vehicle. Similar camera arrangements can also be implemented in fixed-wing aerial vehicles.

Abstract: Autonomous aerial navigation in low-light and no-light conditions includes using night mode obstacle avoidance intelligence and mechanisms for vision-based unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) navigation to enable autonomous flight operations of a UAV in low-light and no-light environments using infrared data.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for tracking objects in a physical environment using visual sensors onboard an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). In certain embodiments, images of the physical environment captured by the onboard visual sensors are processed to extract semantic information about detected objects. Processing of the captured images may involve applying machine learning techniques such as a deep convolutional neural network to extract semantic cues regarding objects detected in the images. The object tracking can be utilized, for example, to facilitate autonomous navigation by the UAV or to generate and display augmentative information regarding tracked objects to users.

Abstract: An introduced autonomous aerial vehicle can include multiple cameras for capturing images of a surrounding physical environment that are utilized for motion planning by an autonomous navigation system. In some embodiments, the cameras can be integrated into one or more rotor assemblies that house powered rotors to free up space within the body of the aerial vehicle. In an example embodiment, an aerial vehicle includes multiple upward-facing cameras and multiple downward-facing cameras with overlapping fields of view to enable stereoscopic computer vision in a plurality of directions around the aerial vehicle. Similar camera arrangements can also be implemented in fixed-wing aerial vehicles.